There are several interesting and famous references to Madeira wine in history and literature. For instance, Shakespeare (1564/1613) mentions Madeira wine as an exquisite drink in his play Henry IV. The Duke of Clarence’s name is associated to this wine for it is said that, having plotted against his brother Edward IV, he chose to be executed by drowning in a cask of Malmsey wine.Francis I of France (1708/1765) was proud to own Madeira wine, which he considered “the richest and most delicious of European wines”.Around 1808/1810, in European courts, Madeira wine was judged to be one of the very finest. It rivalled Port wine in the court of British sovereigns and court ladies even used it to scent their handkerchiefs. In Boston, Charleston, New York and Philadelphia, the leading families disputed the possession of the best Madeira wines.Madeira was equally renowned for its wines, much appreciated in Russian aristocratic circles. Rasputin, an Orthodox monk with great influence in the court of the last czar, Nicholas II, enjoyed Madeira wine so much that, according to historians, this was the drink used to poison him.